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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
O Moore INT
21
Winner Western Ky. WKU 5-4 , 3-2
13
UTEP TEP 3-7 , 2-4
Winner
Western Ky. WKU
5-4 , 3-2
21
Final
13
UTEP TEP
3-7 , 2-4
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WKU Western Ky. 0 0 14 7 21
TEP UTEP 0 3 0 10 13

Game Recap: Football |

Miners Topped by WKU 21-13 Saturday Night

GAME BOOK | POSTGAME NOTES

EL PASO, Texas – UTEP led at halftime 3-0 as it held one of the nation's more prolific offenses in check, but WKU escaped with a 21-13 victory to snap a two-game losing skid on Saturday night in Sun Bowl Stadium. 
 
The Hilltoppers (5-2, 3-2 Conference USA), who came into the contest averaging just over 29 points per game and 395 yards off total offense, were held to 280 yards of total offense. The Miners (3-7, 2-4 CUSA) dominated the first half statistically, 197 yards of total offense to 65 yards. UTEP gained 368 yards of total offense including 154 yards on the ground. 
 
"Obviously, I'm heartbroken from the loss. When I looked at the stats, I'm even more heartbroken because you just take a play or two difference right there, and it's a completely different ballgame," UTEP Head Coach Dana Dimel said. "There's not a category that they won, except for the scoreboard, and that's the only one that counts. That being said, I was so proud. I'd love to see the first-half stats too. Let's start off with the defensive effort. Austin Reed, one of the most prolific passers the past two years in our conference, threw for 102 yards and Malachi Corley, a tremendous receiver, I believe leading the conference, had 10 yards of receptions."
 
The first quarter saw both teams exchange seven punts on the six first possessions as the UTEP defense forced four WKU punts. The Miners finally put points on the board in the second to take a 3-0 lead at the 6:29 mark.
 
UTEP drove the ball 59 yards on 12 plays that was capped by a 22-yard field goal by Buzz Flabiano at the 6:29 mark. Torrance Burgess Jr. tallied 46 yards on the drive including a 17-yard dash to the WKU 21. 
 
UTEP had an opportunity to get more points on the board before halftime, but did not covert a fourth-and-1 from the WKU 3-yard line and took a 3-0 lead into the half. 
 
"Did I think about kicking it? No. You don't kick a field goal there, not when you've got a good offensive line," Dimel said. "When you can run the ball as well as we were running the ball on them, at the time getting the ball down there and running the ball well. I'm going to say this, I'm super, super proud of the way the guys played. I'm incredibly proud of the effort the guys put out there today. A lot of guys played really good football. This is a team that is challenging for the conference championship and was picked to win the conference championship. As beat up as we are, I leave that field saying there's so many ways we could have won that football game."
 
The Hilltoppers finally broke through coming out of the locker room when Elijah Young ran 64 yards to the end zone to make the count 7-3 at the 10:49 mark of the third quarter. 
 
Following a UTEP turnover, WKU took a 14-3 advantage on a Reed three-yard shovel pass to Malachi Corley with 14 seconds remaining in the third. The Hilltoppers drove the ball 54 yards on 16 plays taking 8:46 off the clock. The drive was set up by Davion Williams who intercepted a Cade McConnell pass at the WKU 46 at 9:55 mark of the third. 
 
On UTEP's ensuing possession, the Miners used only three plays to get to pay dirt. McConnell threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Kelly Akharaiyi at the 14:15 mark. UTEP got within four points (14-10) following a Flabiano made PAT.
 
But WKU built its lead to 21-10 after a 75-yard, eight-play drive that was capped by a Young one-yard leap into the end zone. 
 
Flabiano got the Miners within eight points (21-13) on a 31-yard field goal with 56 seconds left in the game after a 10-play, 53-yard drive. The onside kick, however, was failed. 
 
Akharaiyi tallied 141 yards on five receptions and a touchdown. It was Akharaiyi's second consecutive 100-yard game after recording 126 at Sam Houston last week. Burgess Jr. led the way with 86 yards rushing on 15 attempts (5.7 avg.), while Deion Hankins rushed for 67 yards. He's two yards short of moving to no. 7 on the program's all-time rushing list. 
 
Tyrice Knight led the defense with 14 tackles, his 18th career double-digit tackle performance, while adding a tackle for loss and two breakups. James Neal registered seven stops, while Kanious Vaughn recorded his sixth sack of the season. 
 
UP NEXT
UTEP will have its second bye week of the 2023 season, and will return to action at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 18 with a Noon MT kickoff. The Miners will close out the regular season against Liberty on "Senior Day" (Nov. 25) at 1:30 p.m. in the Sun Bowl. 
 
 
Help Support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club. Visit https://givingto.utep.edu/mac today!
 
UTEP football is celebrating 60 years in the historic Sun Bowl. You're invited to pledge to support the Miners' success during the 2023 season. You can pledge to support each Miner win, bowl eligibility and even a CUSA Championship. Personalize your support of the Miners! https://caringcent.org/utep/football23
 
For complete coverage of UTEP Football, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPFB (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.  
 
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